Magnetic attraction

The most interesting thing at Breguet this year wasn’t there. Rather, it was there, but you couldn’t see it or touch it.

To explain clearly the forces at work behind the technology that the brand patented a few years ago and just put in their Classique Chronométrie 7727 model, it had to bring out a basketball-sized replica of a part of the 574DR hand wound mechanical movement.

The high frequency 10Hz movement vibrates much faster than most mechanical movements, and this allows a higher level of accuracy.

The 10Hz system appeared previously on its historicallyinspired Type XXII aviation watch, and now it moves from a sporty application to a very elegant one.

The most important innovation for this classic model is the use of magnets.

Magnets are used instead of metal pieces to keep the spinning parts in place and centred.

Using magnets to hold and centre the revolving pieces limits the transfer of shock. This was why Brequet developed the “parachute” system for. And because the magnets are unaffected by gravity, they also do the job of that most complicated of mechanisms that Breguet developed, the tourbillon. All these things combined lead to increased resistance to magnetism, improved shock resistance and higher accuracy that can beat the COSC chronometer certification standards, but still offers a 60-hour power reserve.

Six different engine-turned patterns are visible on the dial, with “10Hz” appearing at around 9 o’clock. A tenth of a Magnetic attraction Carl Cunanan second indicator is usable on the dial because of a special lightweight silicon hand that won’t affect the balance.

The Reine de Naples watches have always been meant for the ladies, and the new “Day/Night” 8998BB/11/874 D00D with Cal. 78CS self-winding movement gives them a complication that is brilliant horologically and beautiful to watch.

There are two dials on the watch face, with time-telling function of hours and minutes shown on the lower portion. Higher up is a decorated disc of deep blue lapis lazuli sky that rotates around a centre point on a curved bridge.

The sky is encrusted with white mother-of-pearl clouds, gold stars and an engraved titanium moon. The sun is the balance wheel, exposed and moving and surrounded by a facetted rim. The disc makes a full tour once a day, moving under the bridge in the evening and coming back up to 12 at noon. Truly captivating technically and visually, the watch has about 143 diamonds set into the dial flange and bezel.